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As such, it makes sense for each Doctor to have a unique Sonic Screwdriver design that sometimes has a lot to do with their personalities. And with around fourteen Doctors throughout the entire series, it’s interesting to check out just which Doctors have the most sophisticated and coolest Sonic Screwdriver designs.
10 The War Doctor
It’s the War Doctor that makes a surprise appearance in the 50th Anniversary Special when both the 10th and 11th Doctor realize he’s been fighting the Time War for hundreds of years. And just as John Hurt makes the perfect actor for this grizzled war veteran, so too does the Sonic Screwdriver need a design to fit the part.
Characterized by a simple steel cylinder and a diode that emitted red when used, this Sonic Screwdriver served as the perfect bridge of designs. After all, it connected the simpler designs of its predecessors and the more visually “pumping” designs of its successors. This Sonic Screwdriver is crazy powerful too, allowing the Doctor to create force fields, propel Daleks, and even create hundred-year calculations.
9 13th Doctor
Aside from Jodie Whittaker’s historic moment as the first female Doctor, it’s also the 13th Doctor that has one of the most unique Sonic Screwdriver designs in the series. Although more simplistic in appearance, this Sonic Screwdriver is one of the rare demonstrations of the Doctor’s tinkering tendencies since his third incarnation. And the design does fit the Sonic Screwdriver’s more multi-functional, Swiss army knife nature than simply being a generic alien analysis tool.
Resembling more of an alien wand than anything else, the 13th Doctor’s Screwdriver is now unique in that its curved handle is the unique part and not simply the emitter. The 13th Doctor herself said that this time around, the Sonic Screwdriver is also a scanner, a tin opener, and a diagnostic tool. However, it could be overloaded - something that didn’t happen before.
8 7th Doctor
Despite his short tenure, the 7th Doctor did have one of the sleekest Sonic Screwdriver designs among his iterations. The 8th Doctor called this the “Mark 5” prior to losing it, and its stay with the 7th Doctor marked the perfect transition between the classic and newer models prior to the War Doctor’s arrival.
Characterized by a handle with a flat base, a silver body, and a brass trim ring for its lower grip, this Screwdriver definitely screams modern. Its upper section can now be collapsed for ease of access - something the 9th and 10th Screwdrivers would share. Its emitter is unique in that it has a silver ring and a red crystal at the center. Its capabilities remained the same - being able to analyze information and scan various technologies, and still open doors. More bizarrely, the Screwdriver could be used more lethally - capable of destroying Daleks.
7 12th Doctor
Compared to the rather simpler yet sleek designs of the previous Sonic Screwdrivers, the 12th Doctor and his are out to make a statement. When combined with his Sonic Sunglasses, the Doctor looks exactly like a flashy guy who would use “Doctor Disco” as a nickname. And even then, this iteration of the Sonic Screwdriver remains quite refreshing to look at. Provided by the TARDIS itself, its appearance does have resemblance to the iconic vehicle, marked by strong blue accents - and even a witty pen at the other end for the Doctor’s lectures.
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This time around, the Sonic Screwdriver returns to being more of a scanning tool to close and open doors. However, with enough assistance, the Sonic could be reprogrammed to do quite a lot of other things. These functions include detonating powerful explosions or even creating forcefields. The simpler function of this Sonic Screwdriver with its flashy appearance emphasizes Peter Capaldi and his Doctor’s more plot-heavy approach to stories.
6 River Song’s Screwdriver
While not necessarily a “new” Sonic Screwdriver, fans would immediately realize that the 12th Doctor gave River Song the same model as the Sonic Screwdriver of his tenth incarnation. However, what makes River Song’s Screwdriver extra special is the sentimental value attached to it. After all, it’s the first gift the Doctor actually gave River, who was technically his wife.
It shares a lot of the functions of the original Sonic Screwdriver, but this version can manipulate gravity wells and even affect her expedition suits. Most importantly, River’s Screwdriver included a neural relay that would save her data ghost from being uploaded into the Library’s main computer. This is something the Tenth Doctor would recognize before River finally realizes her role within the Doctor’s adventure in the Library. While it doesn’t appear much in the series, the heavy role of the Sonic Screwdriver in the plot does make it special.
5 9th And 10th Doctor
Very rarely does a Sonic Screwdriver have the honor of being wielded by two Time Lords, yet this is the distinction this design had with the 9th and 10th Doctor. When Doctor Who got a revival in 2005, Christopher Eccleston brought a lot of equal parts glee and punk to his run as the 9th Doctor, and with it is a sleeker and more futuristic Sonic Screwdriver. Boasting an extended glass tube with a blue emitter, this Sonic Screwdriver looks far cooler compared to the ones wielded by other Doctors.
Aside from its usual functions, this particular Screwdriver has multiple diagnostic settings, especially in its ability to not just detect but also locate and deactivate various signals. It could also interface with various machines to control them and even control the TARDIS from the outside. Oddly enough, it’s the first Sonic Screwdriver to be declared ineffective against wood.
4 3rd Doctor
Of all the Doctors in the series, it’s the 3rd Doctor that inspired the more action-packed and non-hesitant Doctor - always ready to head straight into the action. And his companion would need to be prepared to face various oddities he would encounter along the way, and his Sonic Screwdriver is geared precisely to do that. Unlike the 2nd Doctor who had a more “basic” Sonic Screwdriver, the 3rd Doctor really went wild with its capabilities and design.
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Characterized by a yellow-and-black body, a larger body, and unique pull-down activation sequences, this Screwdriver is easily the most stylish in the classic era. Not only that, but its functionalities were wild compared to the others. Thanks to its interchangeable emitters, the Sonic Screwdriver can not only scan things but also emit fire, cut metal, and even hypnotize others.
3 11th Doctor
With the trend of Sonic Screwdrivers matching the personalities of their holders, it’s perhaps the one belonging to the 11th Doctor that tops the list. Its larger frame, extendable “claws,” and green emitter match the aesthetic of his newly-designed TARDIS. Not only that, its aesthetic screamed the sense of style Matt Smith brings to the table during his tenure as the 11th Doctor.
In terms of functions, it’s his Sonic Screwdriver that is perhaps the most versatile as well. When wielded, this Sonic Screwdriver seems to be voice activated and even knows precisely what it’s going to be used for when pointed somewhere. Not only that, this Sonic Screwdriver can unlock doors, perform medical scans, and other sorts of programmable tasks - provided it’s not done on wood.
2 4th Doctor
While both the 2nd and 3rd Doctors would have their own Sonic Screwdrivers, it’s perhaps the 4th Doctor that would dictate the appearance of most other Sonic Screwdrivers for years to come. Characterized by a steel tube, a circular handle, and a black bolt as an emitter, this “simple with a unique tip” design would be used for generations of Doctors to come.
Functions-wise, this was the time the series started experimenting with the Sonic’s capabilities. This time around, the 4th Doctor’s Screwdriver not only uses sound to manipulate screws. Rather, it can also interface with computers and even become handy to repair various objects. This Sonic was a great avenue to showcase more bizarre special effects in the height of color television, and an awesome way to dictate the Sonic Screwdriver’s conventional design.
1 2nd Doctor
Uncomplicated and quite literal to a fault, it’s the 2nd Doctor and his adventures that revealed the Sonic Screwdriver. And it’s his journeys that made the Sonic Screwdriver the iconic gadget that it is today. Looking thin enough to be mistaken for a monitor with a special tip, this Sonic Screwdriver quite literally uses soundwaves to screw as well as open locks, doors, hatches, and panels.
While it does not possess a lot of the neat features of its successors, the 2nd Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver remains a highlight in terms of its design. The penlight aesthetic and soundwave aesthetic was a great stride in creativity for 1968 sci-fi, and it’s an artistic decision that continues to evolve across the Doctor’s iterations.
Doctor Who will air the final outing of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor with its third 2022 Special in October 2022. After that, Russell T. Davies will wield the Sonic Screwdriver and ride the TARDIS as the Fourteenth Doctor in the upcoming 14th Season.
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